C♯ Blues at a glance
The blues scale is where blues, rock, R&B and jazz improvisation live. That added flat fifth with all the bends and slides - that's its signature voice. Built on the root C♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where C♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | C♯ E F♯ G G♯ B |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 3m · 4P · 5d · 5P · 7m |
| Step pattern | W+H W H H W+H W |
C♯ Blues on the piano
Improvisation drone · C♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano C♯ Blues uses three black keys (C♯, F♯ and G♯) and three white.
C♯ · E · F♯ · G · G♯ · B
Play C♯ Blues on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
C♯ Blues on the guitar
C♯ Blues - fr 0–12
C♯ Blues on the staff
Notes of the C♯ Blues scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | E | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 3 | F♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 4 | G | diminished 5th5d | 6 | |
| 5 | G♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | B | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes C♯ Blues different
The blues scale is the minor pentatonic with one extra note, the ♭5, which gives it six notes. The added note sits between the fourth and the fifth, making 4, ♭5, 5 the only chromatic run in the scale. It's a passing note: players rarely hold it, and bending or sliding through it is what gives blues phrasing its cry. Over a blues in a major key, the scale's ♭3 also rubs against the major third of the chords, the second source of that tension. On C♯, C♯ Blues is C♯ Minor Pentatonic (C♯ E F♯ G♯ B) with G added.
How to use the C♯ Blues scale
Because C♯ Blues has fewer or more than seven notes, it doesn't produce a standard set of seven diatonic triads. Instead, build chords by stacking thirds within the scale or use it as a melodic colour over chords drawn from a related diatonic key.
The blues scale is where blues, rock, R&B and jazz improvisation live. That added flat fifth with all the bends and slides - that's its signature voice.
Practice tips
Add the blue note (flat fifth) to your minor pentatonic phrases as a passing or grace note. Don't sit on it too long - works best as a slide.
Formula & step pattern
The C♯ Blues scale follows the minor pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth - the famous “blue note”. Step pattern: W+H - W - H - H - W+H - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 3m · 4P · 5d · 5P · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Famous songs in C♯ Blues
These well-known tracks all use the C♯ Blues scale.
- 01Born Under a Bad SignAlbert King
Questions people ask
What notes are in the C♯ Blues scale?
The C♯ Blues scale contains C♯, E, F♯, G, G♯ and B.
What is the formula for the C♯ Blues scale?
C♯ Blues follows the minor pentatonic scale with an added flat fifth - the famous “blue note”.
Is C♯ Blues a major or minor scale?
C♯ Blues is a blues scale. Minor pentatonic with an added flat fifth (the blue note) - the heart of blues phrasing.
What chords belong to the C♯ Blues scale?
C♯ Blues doesn't produce a standard seven-chord diatonic set. Use chords from a related diatonic scale instead.
Which genres use C♯ Blues?
The blues scale is where blues, rock, R&B and jazz improvisation live. That added flat fifth with all the bends and slides - that's its signature voice.
How do you play the C♯ Blues scale on the piano?
On the piano C♯ Blues uses three black keys (C♯, F♯ and G♯) and three white.
What is the difference between C♯ Blues and C♯ Minor Pentatonic?
On C♯, C♯ Blues is C♯ Minor Pentatonic (C♯ E F♯ G♯ B) with G added.
How do I practise the C♯ Blues scale?
Add the blue note (flat fifth) to your minor pentatonic phrases as a passing or grace note. Don't sit on it too long - works best as a slide.